No Man Standing: A Munch Mancini Crime Novel - Hardcover

Seranella, Barbara

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1587243040 ISBN 13: 9781587243042

Publisher: Wheeler Pub Inc, 2002

Synopsis

A new Munch Mancini novel from the nationally bestselling author whose "Unfinished Business" was a "Los Angeles Times" "Best Book of 2001" Munch Mancini is a busy woman, what with her auto mechanic's job, her fledgling limo business, and single motherhood, but she hasn't forgotten her old friends: she's still close to Ellen Summers. Munch and Ellen were young and foolish together. They drank, they did drugs, they did other things they'd rather forget. But somewhere along the line, Munch went straight and Ellen went to prison. Now, Ellen is about to be freed form the California Institiution ofor Women. She'll have another chance to make a life. Or will she? Just a day before her release, her world falls apart when someone tortures and murders her mother and stepfather, Lila Mae and Dwayne Summers. Ellen may be the next target. Ellen has something the killer wants, and she's not about to give it up. Alone and threatened, she flees to Munch. Munch wants to help, but is Ellen telling her the truth? Too much of Ellen's story doesn't make sense, and what if helping Ellen puts Munch's eight-year-old daughter, Asia, at risk? That's where friendship stops and motherhood takes over. Where Asia's concerned, Munch takes no chances. Unwilling to confide completely in the police because the whole truth would send Ellen back to prison, Munch embarks on a mission to find the killer and to cut the best possible deal for her friend. Work, friendship, loyalty, motherhood, men, and even Munch's sobriety are all put to the test in the six harrowing days leading up to a heartbreaking showdown. Munch must ask herself some tough questions. If she comes through this one, she'll never takeanything for granted again. Besides her dealings with Ellen, Munch has some problems of her own. The jealous mother of one of Asia's playmates is stalking Munch, convinced she's stealing her husband. The woman could be dangerous. She can't be ignored. She's wrong about the husband, though. The chemistry is between Munch and Homicide Detective Rico Chacin, who's investigating the Summers murders. Munch hasn't felt this way about a man in a long time, but canshe trust him? With riveting action and one of the most unconventional and appealing heroines in all of crime fiction, "No Man Standing" is the best yet from a superbly gifted author.

About this title

Review:

Munch Mancini used to be a biker chick who was handy with a wrench but had a few bad habits like booze, drugs, and bad taste in men. The heroine of Barbara Seranella's lively, engaging series of mysteries, Munch is trying to clean up her new life as a solid citizen and single mother by staying away from the temptations of her old one. But when her closest friend, Ellen, gets out of jail and learns just how badly someone wants the money she took from a man who tried to kill her, Munch can't turn her away. It's not like Munch doesn't have her own problems: she's being stalked by the mother of one of her daughter Asia's playmates, trying to resuscitate her moribund limousine business, and in the middle of moving into the first house she's ever owned. And now she's got a sullen stripper on her bad side, counterfeit money in her kid's toy box, a new lover who's also a cop, and a very strange guy who says he's her friend's father but might also be a killer who's staying one step ahead of every move she makes. This entertaining and well-crafted thriller should earn this highly original writer (Unfinished Business, Unwanted Company) a host of new fans. --Jane Adams

About the Author:

Barbara Seranella was born in Santa Monica. After running away from home at fourteen, joining a hippie commune and riding with outlaw motorcycle clubs she decided to do something normal and became a mechanic. Her previous novel, Unfinished Business, was also published by Robert Hale.

About this edition

• Publisher: Wheeler Pub Inc
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 1587243040
• ISBN 13: 9781587243042
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 384